Door latch



April 15, 1941. v. w. ERICKSON noon LATCH Filed Oct. -s, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet i Inventor VERNON W. ERICKSON,

April 1941- v. w. ERICKSON 2,238,414

DOOR LATCH Filed Oct. 3, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor VERNON W. ERICKSON,

A tiomeys April 15, 1941.

' y. w; ERICKSON DOOR LATCH Filed Oct. 3, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 VERNON Ml. E mKsoN',

Attorneys with a latch thereon forming the Patented Apr. 15, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Vernon W. Erickson, Grand Coulee, Wash.

3 Claims;

This invention relates to latches especially adapted for swinging doors ofthe character found on. automobiles, refrigerators or within buildings, and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which may be employed for safely latching a door in a closed position and to,lock the latch element thereof against being opened from the outside of the door except through the use of a key and to permit manual freeing of the latch element from a locked position from the inside of the door.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a latch wherein the number of moving parts will be reduced to a minimum and said parts may move with a minimum amount of friction and with the elimination of a sliding latch element now commonly employed in a OODVGh-r tional type of latch.

A further object of this invention is the provision of simplified operating means for the latch.

element wherein the hand engaging portions are readily accessible without unduly protruding beyond the faces of the door and so arranged that the latch'element will be operated by .a push on one of said hand engaging portions which also acts to move the door open and a pull on the other hand engaging portion also acting to pull the door open in the direction of its full open position.

.With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed. I

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a portion of a door and a portion of a wall subject matter of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a frgamentary plan view partly in section illustrating,a lock-bolt operating shaft.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 isa fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the latch applied to aportion of a door with the latter in a closed position and the latchelement engaging a keeper carried by the wall.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the, door partly in an open position'and the latch element held in releasing position.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the locking means for the latch element and the latter in latching position or in engagement with a keeper of the wall.

Figure '7 is a detail sectional view taken on the line |'I of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the mounting of the latch element and the connection of a spring thereto.

Figure 9 is a plan view illustrating an operating shaft and showing one of the rollers carried thereby.

Figure 10 is a perspective view illustrating the latch element. 5 Y

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates a fragmentary portion of a door of a metallic construction frequently employed on an automobile, a refrigerator or within a building and 6 indicates a wall construction also of metallic formation and providing a frame for the door and including in its construction a keeper I wherein the transverse wall 8 is provided with a recess 9 by the offsetting of said wall 8 to form a part of the keeper I and for receiving a portion of a latch element I0 forming a part of the latch and which will be hereinafter more fully described. The keeper I further includes a projection ll having a pockets I! and I8 and only protrude a limited disstraight wall I! and a beveled strike wall l3. The projection II is so'arranged as to form one wall of the recess 9 of the keeper 1 as clearly shown in Figures 4 to 6, inclusive. ,The inner wall of the wall construction 5 when forming the frame for the door protrudes slightly beyond the wall 8 to form a strike face l4 for the door 5 when in a closed position. Y

In .the construction of the door 5 the inner and outer walls l5 and I 6 are offset to form pockets I"! and i8. These pockets are preferably located adjacent the vertical 'free edge of the door. Guards i9 and 20 are secured to the inner and outer walls I 5 and I6 of the door about the tance beyond the outer faces of the inner and outer walls I! and IS.

The inner and outer walls I5 and I6 of the door within the pockets l1 and iii are provided with aligned openings for the support of a latch element operating shaft 2| the free ends of which are arranged within the pockets "and iii. A fixed wall 22 is arranged in the door 5 between the inner and outer walls and located adjacent to the shaft 2| and the latter is provided with angularly related faces and the openings in the innerand outer walls l5 and I6 of the door are shaped to match the singularly related faces of the shaft 2| so that the latter may slide freely but'will be held against rotation. The shaft 2| is provided with an enlargement 23 in which is journaled a roller 24 that has riding contact with the fixed wall 22 during the sliding movement of the shaft 2|. The enlargement 23 of the shaft 2| further includes spaced ears 25 forming a journal for a roller 26 which is adapted to contact the latch element l and which will be hereinafter more fully described.

A finger or hand plate 21 is secured to one end of the shaft 2| and operates within the pocket .I! and the guard I9 and only partly closes said guard so that the fingers of a hand may be brought in contact therewith. The guard NJ includes stop flanges 28 for the finger plate 21 to abut and which limits the sliding movement of the shaft 2| in one direction and against the action of a coil spring 29 interposed between the finger plate 21 on said shaft 2| and the inner wall of the pocket l1 and which inner wall is recessed, as shown at 30, to form a seat for one end of the spring and to provide clearance for the spring when under full compression.

A finger plate 3| is secured to the other end of the shaft 2| and operates within the pocket l8 and the guard 2|] thereof and has inwardly extending flanges 32 thereon. The finger plate 3| only partly closes the guard 20 so that a person may readily place the fingers within the guard and behind the finger plate 3| for the purpose of placing a pull on the shaft 2| to slide the latter against the action of the spring 29 besides exerting a pull on the door in a direction to swing the door in an open position.

The door between the pockets l1 and I8 is provided with supporting walls 33 in the form of a casing open at one side and opening outwardly through the vertical edge of the door opposite the keeper of the wall construction when the door is in a closed position. The latch element In is pivotally mounted on .the supporting walls 33 by a pivot pin 34. The latching element In is of substantially L shape providing the angularly related arm portions'34' and 35. The opening 36 for the pivot pin 34 is located at the juncture of the arm portions 34' and 36. The arm portion 35 is provided with a rounded end 31 merging into a substantially straight face 38 and the latter is adapted to contact the straight face or wall |2 of the keeper i3 when the door is in closed position, as clearly shown in Figure 6. The arm portion 34' of the latch element has a curvature thereto and is provided with a beveled roller engaging face 39 and a notch 40. The roller 26 is adapted during the actuation of the latch element to engage either the beveled face 39 or the notch 4|) as will 'be apparent in Figures 4 and 5. A pin 4| is seemed to the latch element I9 substantially at the juncture of the arm portions 34' and 36 and located slightly laterally of the pivot pin opening 36 andhas one end of a coil spring 42 secured thereto, the other end of the coil spring 42 being secured to the supporting wall 33. The spring 42 is of a greater strength than the spring 29 and it will be seen that by referring to Figure 4 that when the latch element is in latching position the spring substantially crosses the pivot pin of the latch ele-' ment to assume a substantially dead center position with the beveled face 39 of the latch element in engagement with the roller 26 and with the roller 24 in engagement with the fixed wall 22 it is impossible for the latch element to pivot out of latching position, the spring 29 positioning ing the latch element against pivotal movement.

When the spring 42 is in substantially dead center position with respect to the pivot pin of the latch element as shown in Figure 4 the spring 29 then has greater strength than the spring 42. However, when the spring 42 assumes a position laterally of the pivot pinvof the latch element, as shown in Figure 5, then said spring 42 has a greater strength than the spring 29 and' will sustain the operating shaft 2| in a position as shown in Figure 5 with the roller 26 in engagement with a notch 40 holding the latch in a released position and with the spring 29 fully compressed. The latch element when in a released position, as shown in Figure 5, will permit the door to be readily opened. Of course, in order to permit the latch element to assume the releasing position the shaft 2| must be manually moved endwise and swinging movement imparted to the door so that the projection l of the keeper I will cause the latch element to pivot into the released position, as shown in Figure 5, the latch element remaining in this position until the door is closed and the latch element contacts the walls of the recess 9 of the keeper whence the latch element will be caused to pivot and assume a latching position and the spring 29 then restores th operating shaft 2| to its initial position with the roller 26 in engagement with the face 39 of the latch element preventing said latch element from moving out of latching position.

The latch element I9 upon one side thereof and about the pivot opening 36 is provided with a recess 44 to provide clearance for the spring 42 in connection with the pivot pin 3.4.

In operation when it is desired to open the door 5 from the inside thereof a person places pressure on the finger plate 21 imparting endwise movement to the shaft 2| and'a pressure on the door in the direction of the movement of the door into an open position. The movement of the shaft 2| in said endwise direction moves the roller 26 from engagement with the beveled face 39 of the latch element and the door moving toward an open position brings about pivotal movement of the latch element into releasing position by said latch element riding on the projection H of the' keeper 1. As the latch element assumes releasing position as shown in Figure 5 the roller 26 enters the notch 4|! thereby securing the shaft 2| against endwise movement and sustaining the latch element in releasing position due to the action of the spring 42. With the latch element in releasing position, the door 5 may then be moved into a closed position without the latch element striking the projection ll of the keeper consequently permitting the closing of the door without eilecting movement of any of the parts of the latch, consequently eliminating noise and friction. As the door reaches the substantially closed position the latch element engages with a wall of the recess 9 of the keeper 1 which brings about a pivotal movement of the latch element into latching position freeing the shaft 2| allowing the latter to return to its initial position by the influence of the spring 29, the spring 42 then assuming a substantially dead center position with respect to the pivot pin 34 of the latch element so that the spring 29 may have the operating shaft 2| in the position of secur- 75. cures the latter against pivotal movement by shown) in the door.

the roller II contacting the fixed wall 22 of a the door construction and thereby prevents the to open the door. However, the shaft 2| is first moved prior to the opening of the door in an endwise direction to disengage the roller 26 from the face 39 of the latch element. As the roller 23 disengages the face 39 of the latch element the pull on the door brings about a movement of the door toward open position which causes the latch element to pivot into releasing position by riding against the projection H of the keeper 7. Of course, as the latch element assumes releasing position as shown in Figure 5, the roller moves into the notch securing the latch element in releasing position and the shaft 2i against reverse movement under the influence of the spring 29.

The walls of the pockets ii and I8 of the door construction 5 have removably mounted therein journals 48 and H. A keybarrel 48 of a conventional type of lock is mounted for rotation in'the journal 41 when actuated by a key. The journal 46 has a rectangular shaped opening 49. A bolt operating shaft 50 has a hook-shaped end it to engage with a pin 52 of the lock barrel and also fits within a recess provided in the lock barrel to provide a driving connection between the lock barrel and the shaft. The shaft 59 includes a crank 53 and a portion W of the shaft at one end of the crank is out of alignment with the other portion of the shaft to engage with opposite walls of the rectangular shaped opening 9 of the journal 48. This end of the shaft is equipped with a hook 54 for connecting the shaft to a finger piece 55. The finger piece 5! is shown located in the pocket I! while the lock barrel is is shown operabie from within the pocket 18 by the key. The journals 46 and 41 are so located that the key barrel and fingerpiece will be clear of the finger plates 3i and 21. A lock bolt "is slidably mounted in the supporting wall 38 and includes a slotted head 61 through which the crank I3 extends. The

lock bolt is capable of entering a socket ll formed in the latch element I 0 when in a lowered position for the purpose of securing the' latch element in a latching position. The crank is then occupying a downwardly inclined position as shown in Figure 7." To disengage the lock bolt from the recess of the latching element the crank shaft 50 must be rotated either by the key .or the finger piece 55 and on the upward movement of the crank the bolt will be withdrawn from the latch element. When the crank is in either of its positions it will be retained in said positions due to the portion 48 of the shaft 50 engaging the angularly related walls of the journal l8.

While the latch is shown in the drawings and described as being adapted to a door of a particular construction, that is, having the pockets i1 and I8, fixed wall 22, supporting walls It, it is to be understood that the latch may be adapted to a conventional type of door by providing a latch casing (not shown) and similarly constructedto have the pockets l1 and I8, fixed wall 22 and thesupporting wall 83. This will permit the latch to be adapted to doors now in use by simply mounting the latch casing (not It is behaved that the foregoing description,

when taken in connection with the drawings,

will fully set forth the construction and advantages of this invention to those skilled in-the art to which a device relates, so that further detailed description will not be required.

What I claim is:

1. A latch comprising a mounting, a latch element pivoted on said mounting. and having angularly related portions with one of said portions provided with a beveled face and a notch, an operating shaft slidable on said mounting and spring influenced in one direction, friction reducing means carried-by said shaft to engage either the beveled face or the notch of the latch element 'for secm'ing the latter in latching position and for freeing said latch element for movement into releasing position, a spring for releasably securing said latch element in releasing position and freeing'the latch element of its influence when said latch element is in latching position, finger plates secured to the opposite ends of the shaft, guards carried by the mounting and receiving the finger plates, a crank shaft journaled on said mounting, a docking bolt connected to the crank of the crank 'shaft'to be engaged and disengaged with the latch element by the rotation of the crank shaft in opposite directions.

2. A latch comprising a mounting, a latch element pivoted on said mounting and having angularly related portions with one of said portime provided witha beveled face and a notch, an operating shaft slidable on said mounting'and spring influenced in one direction, friction reducing means carried by said shaft to engage either the beveled face or the notch of the latch element for securing the latter inlatching position and for freeing said latch element for movement into releasing position, a spring for releasably securing said latch element in releasing position and freeing the latch element of its in.

time when said latch element is in latching position, finger plates secured to the opposite ends of the shaft, guards carried by the mounting and receiving the finger plates, a crank shaft Journaled on said mounting, a locking bolt connected to the crank of the crank shaft to be engaged and disengaged with the latch element by the rotation of the crank shaft in opposite directions, a key operated mechanism connected to one end of the crank shaft for effecting rotation thereof, and a fingerv piece connected to the other end of the crank shaft for effecting manual rotation of the crank shaft in opposite directions.

,8. A latch comprising a mounting, a latch element pivoted on said mounting and having angularly related portions with one of said portions provided with a beveled face and a notch,

an operating shaft slidable on said mounting and spring influenced in one direction, friction. re-

ducing means carried by said shaftto engage either the beveled face or the notch of the latch element for securing the latter in latching position and for freeing said latch element for movement into releasing position, a spring for releasably securing said latch element in releasing.

position and freeing the latch element of its influence when said latch element is in latching position, finger plates secured to the opposite ends of the shaft, guards carried by the mounting and receiving the finger plates, a crank shaft journaled on said mounting, a locking bolt connected to the crank of the crankshaft to be rotation of the crank shaft in opposite directiom, and means for releasably securing the crank shait in either of its positions of engaging and disengaging the bolt with the latch element.

VERNON W. ERICKSON. 

